Willis aims for consistency in 2004

By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com

 

 

 

 

MIAMI -- Much of Marlins left-hander Dontrelle Willis' success is attributed to his deceptive high-kicking delivery.

All arms and legs, the 6-foot-4 Willis attacked hitters from seemingly all different angles. At least that is how he was so dominant in the first half of the season, going 9-1 (2.08 ERA) before the All-Star break.

 

But after struggling with a 5-5 (4.60) mark in the second half, critics question whether Willis is really a rising star or just a one-year wonder.

 

Called up from Double-A on May 9 because the rotation was ravaged by injuries, Willis is recognized for sparking the Marlins' remarkable turnaround from 10-games under .500 to winning the National League Wild Card and eventually the World Series.

 

Without Willis early, the late-season heroics may never have transpired.

 

Despite his shaky second half, Willis still finished 14-6 (3.30) and was recently honored as NL Rookie of the Year.

 

 

 

 

"The kid worked hard all year," Marlins pitching coach Wayne Rosenthal said. "He caps off a whole year that included a World Series, and a trip to the All-Star Game, with Rookie of the Year. Not bad for a kid who started off the year in Double-A."

 

Engaging and energetic, Willis became an instant hit with his teammates and the media as well as a huge fan attraction, luring large crowds at a time when the Marlins scratched for support.

 

But to avoid being a flash in the pan who quickly fades away, Willis needs to refine his game to become a consistent winner.

 

Before becoming pitching coach on May 11, Rosenthal was the Marlins' minor league pitching coordinator. As much as anyone in the organization, he knows what Willis can and can't do.

 

Due to his instant success and maturity in dealing with so much attention, it is easy to lose sight that Willis emerged at the Major League level at the raw age of 21. He had 157 2/3 innings of minor league experience in 2002 with two Marlins' Single-A teams. His Double-A career consisted of six starts (4-0, 1.49).

 

Willis never expected to be in the big leagues in 2003. And he wasn't prepared for the pressure he endured on and off the field. No other rookie was under the spotlight more. And while Willis attracted so much media attention, he never asked for it.

 

"Whatever level I played, I just wanted to go out there and play good baseball and enjoy what I was doing out there," Willis said. "If you are able to do that and have success, you are able to be in the running for stuff like this [Rookie of the Year]."

 

To improve, Rosenthal says Willis must re-establish his fastball, get a sharper breaking ball/slider and continue mastering his changeup.

 

When brought up in May, Willis had command of all three pitches. For much of the second half, he relied so heavily on his fastball, and hitters made him pay when he fell behind in counts.

 

"He blows people away with his sneakiness," Rosenthal said. "Because of his delivery, he has sneakiness on his fastball. It may be 90 mph, but it looks 94."

 

In the first half, Willis worked ahead in counts and his pitches often exploded in on batters. As the season wore on, he tended to fall behind, and he made mistakes that cost him runs.

 

"He was trying to be too fine," Rosenthal said.

 

Willis doesn't have a sweeping curveball. It's a sharper slider that he wasn't as effective with in the second half. However, Rosenthal was impressed with the rookie's changeup, and the courage Willis had at times to throw it for strikes on hitters' counts.

 

As a rookie without much minor league experience, Willis learned that pitches he was able to get hitters out with in Double-A were being belted for home runs in the big leagues.

 

The fact that Willis continued to battle, and he remained even keel after wins and losses, has people in the organization confident that he has a bright future. They like his stuff, too.

 

"He will never give in, and he will never give up," Rosenthal said. "The second half, I think it was more fatigue than anything. Everybody expected him to do something great every time out. Then he wasn't living up to everybody's expectations."

 

While Willis had his share of tough times, there is a misconception that he flopped to the finish line. That wasn't true.

 

His September numbers, especially compared to Arizona's 24-year-old rookie Brandon Webb, tell otherwise. Webb, who finished third in the Rookie of the Year race, was 10-9 with an impressive 2.84 ERA on the season.

 

However, in September, each rookie started five times. Willis was 3-1 (2.89) with 33 strikeouts and 15 walks in 37 1/3 innings. Willis came up big as the Marlins were trying to secure the Wild Card spot.

 

Webb, meanwhile, was 2-2 (4.20) in September. In 30 innings, he struck out 20 and walked 15. In Webb's last two starts, he allowed 16 runs (nine earned) in eight innings.

 

"You have adversity and you deal with it head on," Willis said. "You climb out of your struggles. I was able to do that in late September."

 

If he learned anything as a rookie, Willis says he was learning how to fail.

 

"It's about executing pitches," Willis said. "You have to stay on top of your game, day in and day out. Because it's such a long season, that's tough to do. You see everybody have spurts where they aren't throwing the ball or hitting the ball as well as they want to. I think that's the beauty of the game, to see who can stay consistent throughout the season."

 

c/o MLB.com

good.

Thats a good thing if he gets a curveball that really bites and drops off at the last second, that would be a great pitch for him.

Thats a good thing if he gets a curveball that really bites and drops off at the last second, that would be a great pitch for him.

That would be deadly I think. The windup, plus that pinpoint control (when he is on) on the fastball and then everyonce in a while have a break-neck hook? That is a formula for sucess.

...in September, each rookie started five times. Willis was 3-1 (2.89) with 33 strikeouts and 15 walks in 37 1/3 innings. Willis came up big as the Marlins were trying to secure the Wild Card spot.

 

Webb, meanwhile, was 2-2 (4.20) in September. In 30 innings, he struck out 20 and walked 15. In Webb's last two starts, he allowed 16 runs (nine earned) in eight innings.

 

More proof that Willis DESERVED ROY honors - and incedentally, proof that Willis is not necessarily a one year wonder. I am concerned with his delivery - will he have arm troubles? I dont think he will - has been throwing like that for quite a while now. If he does get a solid curve to go along with his other pitches, develops better command and works on his accuracy - he will be a 15-20 game winner every year. He has got great stuff and an excellent make up for this.

...in September, each rookie started five times. Willis was 3-1 (2.89) with 33 strikeouts and 15 walks in 37 1/3 innings. Willis came up big as the Marlins were trying to secure the Wild Card spot.

 

Webb, meanwhile, was 2-2 (4.20) in September. In 30 innings, he struck out 20 and walked 15. In Webb's last two starts, he allowed 16 runs (nine earned) in eight innings.

 

More proof that Willis DESERVED ROY honors - and incedentally, proof that Willis is not necessarily a one year wonder. I am concerned with his delivery - will he have arm troubles? I dont think he will - has been throwing like that for quite a while now. If he does get a solid curve to go along with his other pitches, develops better command and works on his accuracy - he will be a 15-20 game winner every year. He has got great stuff and an excellent make up for this. I hear ya, Jonny. When are people going to let this Webb/Willis debate go away? Please tell me we're not going to be comparing them next year to see who deserved ROY honors.

yo...its been a while..but i am always reading...is it me..or does willis seem out of shape...he is big but doesnt seem all that strong..maybe he should hit the weights a little more, he is young so can prob build some muscle and add some mph on his fastball, i think he needs to stop eating so much fast food... what do you all think?

yo...its been a while..but i am always reading...is it me..or does willis seem out of shape...he is big but doesnt seem all that strong..maybe he should hit the weights a little more, he is young so can prob build some muscle and add some mph on his fastball, i think he needs to stop eating so much fast food... what do you all think?

I can't say. I don't know his diet.

What can you not love about Dontrelle. He's just so down to earth, humble, and never gives up.

 

I still can't get over the Hear/Say thing. "Barbershop" lmao classic

yo...its been a while..but i am always reading...is it me..or does willis seem out of shape...he is big but doesnt seem all that strong..maybe he should hit the weights a little more, he is young so can prob build some muscle and add some mph on his fastball, i think he needs to stop eating so much fast food... what do you all think?

where did you hear he eats fast food? :confused

Willis has to adjust in the 2nd half. He got hit harder than the 1st hald because hitters adjusted to his pitches and delivery.

 

For D-Train to be consistant he needs to throw all his pitches. Especially mixing in his cutter and off-speed pitches. I felt he was throwing to much fastballs in the 2nd half IMO

Willis already throws a curve, although it is more like a slurve. The only way I can tell his curve and slider apart are by the radar gun. His curve is usually around 78 and the slider 83.

Willis has to adjust in the 2nd half. He got hit harder than the 1st hald because hitters adjusted to his pitches and delivery.

 

For D-Train to be consistant he needs to throw all his pitches. Especially mixing in his cutter and off-speed pitches. I felt he was throwing to much fastballs in the 2nd half IMO

very well said, I agree

Willis has to adjust in the 2nd half. He got hit harder than the 1st hald because hitters adjusted to his pitches and delivery.

I don't think that's it at all.

 

You can't really adjust to that delivery.

 

IMO, it was his IP. He didn't really think he had the endurance to keep throwing the way he did in the first half, but he had enough endurance where he could still keep pitching. I mean, combined between the bigs and minors, he threw over 200 innings. He had never nearly thrown that many pitches/innings before. His body just needs to adjust. He'll be fine when he gets used to it physically.

If u cant pitch 200 innings....u should still be in AAA or w/e u come from despite all the talent you have. bob gibson used to pitch 300 innings and he didnt throw his arm out. Pitchers now are jus lil girls... only Halladay can come close (didnt he win the CY Young award? thought so)